Switch casing



Oct. 14, 1952 H. w. WILSON 2,514,196

SWITCH CASING Filed Sept. 16, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. [2 ,2 Herfiert W. WiZson 2 44 37 SMM ATTORNEY.

H. W. WILSON Oct. 14, 1952 SWITCH CASING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1948 INVENTOR. Herberf W. I Vilson BY a, M

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 14, 1952 H. w. WILSON 2,614,196

SWITCH CASING Filed Sept. 16, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N V EN TOR. Herberf W1 W1 Z son 1 BY S ATTORNEY.

visible, but of well-known construction).

Patented Oct. 14, 1952 OFFICE SWITCH CASING Herbert W. Wilson, North Canton, ()hio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application September 16, 1948, Serial No. 49,563

6 Claims. (Cl. 260 168) This invention relates to an improved snap switch and more particularly to a simplified terminal anchor construction having fewer components and afiording numerous advantages over prior devices.

Terminal anchors heretofore known are complex and include an unnecessarily large number of component elements. These components must be made to close tolerances at high cost. Moreover, assembly is time consuming and costly.

The present invention provides a simplified arrangement comprising fewer parts requiring a minimum number of close manufacturing tolerances. The construction is also more rugged, faster to assemble and is much more economical to manufacture.

Accordingly the object of the invention is to provide a terminal anchor construction for snap switches having the above mentioned advantages Figure 4 is a view on line 5-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the terminal anchorage employed in the second embodiment.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen to comprise a casing formed of two halves i and l l formed of molded plastic or similar material. An irregular shaped opening l2 formed partially in each half houses the switch mechanism, a part of the operating handle, and the inner portion of the terminal members. This opening is completely closed by the casing halves except for an opening I3 for the oscillating insulated switch handle Hi. Cavity 12 also communicates with an opening through an end of the casing which is fully occupied in assembled position by the terminal anchor assembly.

The switch mechanism proper may be of any conventional snap acting toggle type. As here shown it comprises a pair of insulated side links l5 having their upper ends pivoted to the handle shaft it which is J'ournaled in the casing halves I8 and II. The bottom ends of the links are provided with a keyhole slot H which receives a solid generally cylindrical contact spindle (not Supported on the contact spindle between side links I5 is a T-shaped toggle strut It. A compression spring I9 encircles the strut with one end resting against the head of the T and its opposite end against a slotted dished washer 29. A roundheaded toggle pivot arm 2! integral with operating handle it bears against the dished portion of the washer. The upper end of strut [8 passes through a slot in the washer and bears against the face of arm 2!.

The terminals and terminal anchor assembly will now be described. Generally similar terminal strips 22 and 23 are stamped from sheet metal stock of material having the desired degree of resiliency. The central portion is provided with an opening 24 which fits snugly about opposed bosses 2525 formed in the left-hand notched edge portion of casing halves H! and H. Inwardly of bosses 25, the terminals are bent to lie snugly in shallow cavities formed in' the interior walls of the casing halves. The ends are also bent downwardly to a, position opposite the contact closing spindle of the toggle mechan1sm.

The outer ends of the terminal strip are bent into oppositely facing U-shaped form as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. Threaded openings 26 and 2'! receive terminal screws for attaching conductor wires to the terminal members.

In order to lock the terminal members upon bosses 25 without the use of tools, separate rivets or other equivalent fastening means commonly used heretofore, use is made of a single piece of insulation material which may be blanked conveniently from sheet fiber or the like. Member 28 is relatively thick and is provided with a hole 29 to receive the oppositely facing ends of bosses 25. Cut-out portions 30 and 3! on the edges of strip 28 interlock with bosses 32 and 33 formed in the casing halves and serve to prevent rotation of the strip about bosses 25. Rivets 34 and 35 passing through the casing halves serve to lock the entire assembly together. For greater strength it is desirable that one rivet (such as 34) pass through bosses 25. This construction offers great strength since the assembly rivet passes through openings 24 of the terminal strips and opening 29 of the separator member. Separator 28 not only locks the terminals in place in the casing cavities but also prevents them from contacting one another.

Complete assembly is accomplished very expeditiously by unskilled labor Without the use of any tools. First, a casing half is laid upon a fiat surface with the cavity facing up. The ternow be placed in a riveting machine which will insert rivets 34 and 35 to complete the switch.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that the assembly is accomplished readily by unskilled labor without the use of jigs, special tools, or in fact any equipment whatsover. The assembler is quickly appraised of whether or not the parts are in proper position by the interlocking action of all properly assembled parts. This interlocking-characteristic also has the very great advantage of preventing the parts from becomin displaced as the assembly operation progresses.

- The second embodiment is very similar to the one just described and accordingly like or similar parts are designated by the same numeral primed. It comprises molded insulated casing halves IO, U enclosing an irregular switch receiving cavity l2 which opens to the top side of the casing at l3 to receive the switch operating handle l4. A snap-acting toggle mechanism substantially identical with that described above is housed within cavity l2 and includes side links I5 coupled to shaft l6 at one end and to a cylindrical contact spindle at the opposite end. Riding upon the spindle between the side links is a T-shaped toggle strut Ill surrounded by a compression spring [9. A dished washer 20 is positioned intermediate the top of spring I9 and the rounded end of the switch handle pivot arm 2|. The strut extends through a slot in the washer and rides against the side of the pivot arm.

The novel terminal anchorage constituting a main feature of the invention differs in several detailed respects from that described above. The nature of the construction will be more readily understood from a study of Figures 4 and 5. Terminals 40 and 4| are stamped from sheet material and are especially shaped to interlock with receiving cavities formed entirely in casing half I. Thus, U-shaped portion 42 of terminal 40 fits snugly within notch 43 with the contact leg extending along the lower side of cavity I2. Likewise corresponding portion 45 of contact 4| rests in notch 48 of easing half III. A tab 41 extends from one edge of portion 45 and fits snugly within notch 48 of the casing.

A boss 49 is formed integrally with casing l0 and is positioned intermediate notches 43 and 48. The relatively thick insulated terminal separator 50 is provided with an openin which fits about boss 49 and cooperates with portions 42 and 48 (see Figure 4) of the two terminals to completely fill notches 43 and 48 when assembled. It also holds the two terminals in assembled position in the casing half Ill as will be apparent from Figure 4. Notches 52 and 53 on the inner end of the separator also interlock with casing half ID to provide greater sturdiness.

The outer ends of terminals 40 and 4| are provided with oppositely facing U-shaped portions 22', 23 and with threaded openings 26', 27' for terminal screws. Separator 50 not only serves to separate the terminals and to lock them in place on the casing but may be provided with an extension 54 and a threaded eyelet 55 for the purpose of anchoring certain other parts or for the connection of other wires in the circuit controlled by the switch.

The assembly and operation of the second embodiment is very similar to that described above. Casing I0 is laid upon a fiat surface with cavity l2 facing upward. Terminal 40 is first laid in place in notch 43. The toggle assembly is then placed in cavity l2 with the handle l4 extending through opening l3. Next tab 41 of terminal 4| is placed in notch 53 of the insulated separator and both are then dropped into position with tab 41 fitting into notch 48 and opening 5| of the separator about boss 49. It is a simple matter then to drop cover H of the casin in place and to insert locking rivets 34 and 35'.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a snap switch construction which is exceedingly simple, unusually rugged, and which can be readily assembled by unskilled labor without the use of tools, special machinery or jigs. While only two embodiments have been specifically described, it will be understood that various other arrangements all employing the principle of the invention can be adopted without departure from the spirit of this invention.

It is to be understood that the protection herein applied for is not confined to the particular combinations of features or elements set out in the following claims. Protection is herein applied for for any one or more of the features or elements referred to in the following claims or described in the foregoing specification or shown in the accompanying drawing either independently or in combination.

I claim:

1. A terminal anchorage for switch mecha nisms comprising a two-part switch casing having meeting surfaces between two opposed sides thereof, an integral boss on each of said casing parts, separate switch terminal elements adapted to fit one about each of said bosses, an insulated separator element adapted to be received in part by one boss and in part by the other boss to hold said terminals apart and in assembled position on said bosses, and means for holding said casing parts assembled.

2. A terminal anchorage a defined in claim 1 wherein said holding means passes through said two-part casing and said bosses.

3. A switch casing and terminal anchorage comprising, a two-part casing formed of insulating material and having meeting surfaces between two opposed sides thereof, said casing parts being formed with a central cavity for a snap action switch mechanism and a plurality of notches extending laterally from said cavity to the exterior of said casing, said notches having one side opening into the plane of said meeting casing surfaces to receive a pair of terminals and a separator therefor, a pair of switch terminals each of which is seated in a separate one of said notches and each of which is shaped to interfit with the walls of said casing so as to be held against substantial movement relative to said casing walls during assembly except in a direction opposite to the direction of assembly through the open side of said notches, a one piece flat separator of insulating material positioned between the outer ends of said terminals and having an inner end located in said notches to hold said terminals firmly in place therein, the inner end of said separator being shaped to interlock with portions of said casing and to be held thereby against movement relative thereto when the casing is assembled, and means for holding said casing parts assembled.

4. A switch casing and terminal anchorage as defined in claim 3 wherein said terminal separator is formed from sheet insulating material of uniform thickness equal to the depth'of said notches unoccupied by said pair of terminals.

5. A switch casing and terminal anchorage as defined in claim 3 wherein said terminal seating notches are located in one only of said casing parts, a boss in said one casing part positioned between said notches, said terminal separator having an opening adapted to fit over said boss and j to coact with said notches to hold said terminals seated therein and the other of said casing parts being formed to coact with said separator and said one casing part to hold said separator and said terminals in assembled position.

6. A toggle switch comprising a two-part casing formed of insulating material and having meeting surfaces between two opposed sides thereof, said casing parts forming a central cavity, a plurality of notches extending laterally from said cavity to the exterior of said casing, said notches having one side opening into the plane of said meeting surfaces, a snap action toggle switch mechanism supported within said central cavity having a manually operable handle extending to the exterior of said casing through one of said notches, a pair of elongated switch terminals each of which is seated in a separate one of other of said notche and each of which is shaped to interfit with the walls of said casing so as to be held against substantial movement relative to said casing walls during assembly except in a direction opposite to the direction of assembly through the open side of said notches, a onepiece fiat separator of insulating material positioned between the outer ends of said terminals and having an inner end located in said notches to hold said terminals firmly in place therein, the inner end of said separator being shaped to interlock with portions of said casing and having a thickness equal to the depth of said notches unoccupied by said pair of terminals whereby said terminals and said separator are held against relative movement when the casing is assembled, and means for holding said casing parts assembled.

- HERBERT W. WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,918,450 Broeske July 18, 1933 2,050,705 Krieger Aug. 11, 1936 2,236,763 Peterson Apr. 1, 1941 2,240,007 Power Apr. 29, 1941 2,418,831 Hamilton Apr. 15, 1947 

